More powers for revenue department chief to deal with tax cheats

[webfact]

More powers for revenue department chief to deal with tax cheats



BANGKOK: -- Revenue Department chief will have the powers to temporarily impound or confiscate the assets of persons suspected dodging tax, cheating on tax or claiming excessive tax refund under an amended Revenue Code bill approved recently by the cabinet.

Finance Minister Apisak Tantiworawong said Wednesday that the law amendment was intended to suppress and prevent both local and foreign business operators from evading taxes, cheating on tax payments and excessive claiming of tax refund.

The bill also seeks to empower taxmen to assess the amounts of tax and/or fines to be demanded from individuals who are strongly believed to evade taxes or to demand the return of tax refund.

Another significant element of the bill is that tax evasion or attempt at evading tax will be treated as an offence subjected to investigation under the money laundering law.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/161261

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-27

[shirtless]

They are going to be very busy, I have a strange feeling they are going after foreign business owners.

[gandalf12]

They are going to be very busy, I have a strange feeling they are going after foreign business owners.

Would sound like it. Presumably Thai businesses never do such things

[slapout]

This probably could be much more accurate by saying " Thai businesses never admit to such things even when caught

in the act"

Then when there is no real attempt at enforcement, it makes little difference what you write down in you book concerning legal or illegal and how tough the action threathened is. Another waste of time, effort and manpower by na department which is considered a toothless tiger by many.

[changnaam]

Would be nice to see a few high profile examples , or just roll out a few easy pickings?

[maoro2013]

So the person/corporation just has to be 'suspected' of dodging tax to have assets 'temporarily impounded' or 'confiscated'!!!

[millwall_fan]

Thailand has long needed a revenue dept with more teeth. It is hard to believe that this guy will be powerful enough to go for the really big Thai owned companies. We live in hope.

[StatlerandWaldorf]

Thailand has long needed a revenue dept with more teeth. It is hard to believe that this guy will be powerful enough to go for the really big Thai owned companies. We live in hope.

I agree but what will likely happen in reality is that they will go after people and businesses who are already paying their share and demand more because that is the easy option. Going after the ones who simply don't pay requires effort and that simply won't do.

[millwall_fan]

Thailand has long needed a revenue dept with more teeth. It is hard to believe that this guy will be powerful enough to go for the really big Thai owned companies. We live in hope.

I agree but what will likely happen in reality is that they will go after people and businesses who are already paying their share and demand more because that is the easy option. Going after the ones who simply don't pay requires effort and that simply won't do.

With respect, I don't think that not paying is so much of a problem as big companies underpaying tax and revenue officials not having the power to go through their books, or at worst accepting unofficial 'fees' in lieu of taxes.

[realfunster]

Thailand has long needed a revenue dept with more teeth. It is hard to believe that this guy will be powerful enough to go for the really big Thai owned companies. We live in hope.

I agree but what will likely happen in reality is that they will go after people and businesses who are already paying their share and demand more because that is the easy option. Going after the ones who simply don't pay requires effort and that simply won't do.

Nail on the head ! There are so many companies/individuals illegitimately outside the tax system but they always go for the soft targets.

[Nobb]

What about the tax cheating so called Monks, police and politicians?

[Srikcir]

assess the amounts of tax and/or fines to be demanded from individuals who are strongly believed to evade taxes

Putin has used the Russian tax department using a similar strategy to harrass and imprison wealthy and influential opponents.

Beliefs only need direction and not evidence.

In essence anyone who might present a political challenge to Putin is either financially ruined, goes to jail or pays for protection from prosecution.

Such power for the Thai revenue department will be very susceptible to abuse and corruption.